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Breastfeeding kit checklist

Kit for the first weeks rather than a method to follow — breastfeeding takes practice, and having the right things to hand makes the early days easier.

17 items

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The items

  1. Nursing bras×3Fitted after the birth rather than before — size changes once feeding is established.
  2. Breast pads×20Reusable or disposable, but buy more than seems reasonable for the first fortnight.
  3. Nipple creamOn from day one rather than only once something hurts.
  4. Muslins×6
  5. Breast pump, manual or electricBuy or hire it before you need it rather than mid-crisis at eleven at night.
  6. Storage bags or bottles for expressed milk×10
  7. Nursing pillow
  8. Nursing cover or top that opens where it needs to, if wantedEntirely optional — plenty of people feed without one and that's just as fine.
  9. Water bottle kept wherever feeding happensFeeding is astonishingly thirsty work. Refill it in the same spot rather than getting up.
  10. Snacks kept within reach
  11. A chair that supports your back, not just a soft one
  12. Nightlight for night feeds that doesn't wake anyone fully
  13. Nipple shields, only if a midwife or health visitor has suggested them
  14. Steriliser or steam bags for pump parts
  15. Feeding tracker, app or notebookUseful in the first weeks when everyone asks how often and you genuinely can't remember.
  16. Infant feeding team or health visitor's number savedFor a painful latch, worries about supply or anything that doesn't feel right — sooner is easier to fix.
  17. A plan for whoever offers to bring food overThe single most useful gift in the first weeks is someone else's dinner. Let them.

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Questions people ask

How much does a nursing bra size change?
Enough that buying before the birth is mostly guesswork — get properly fitted once feeding is established, usually a couple of weeks in.
When should I ask for help with feeding?
As soon as something hurts consistently or feels wrong, not after weeks of struggling through it. A painful latch is almost always fixable early.
Do I need an electric pump from day one?
Not necessarily — a manual one is cheaper and fine for occasional expressing. Buy or hire the electric version if you'll be expressing regularly.